Check glove compartments or safe deposit boxes. If missing, contact the DMV immediately for a duplicate title request.
Print out a Kelley Blue Book or NADA valuation dated as of the date of death. The court will require this to prove you didn't sell the car too cheaply.
If the deceased owned a business, the bylaws or operating agreement may dictate that the business dissolves or that partners have a right to buy out the estate.
Search the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) website for old accounts in the deceased's name.
If the deceased was a doctor, lawyer, or CPA, notify their licensing board immediately to prevent fraud or malpractice claims against the estate.
Send a copy of the death certificate to all three major bureaus to flag the Social Security Number as 'Deceased'. This is the single best step to prevent post-mortem identity theft.
means notifying banks and financial institutions of the death so they can stop activity on the deceased’s accounts, then legally transfer or rename them into the estate’s name once you provide Letters Testamentary or Administration.
Surviving spouses and minor children are often legally entitled to a cash allowance from the estate for their support during the probate process. This usually gets paid *before* other creditors.
Hospice beds, oxygen tanks, or wheelchairs are often rented. The estate gets charged daily fees if these are not returned immediately.
The Social Security death benefit is a one-time $255 payment that Social Security may send to a surviving spouse or eligible child after someone dies. It isn’t paid to the estate and must be specifically requested, Social Security does not issue it automatically.
To verify a creditor’s claim, the executor checks that the debt is real, documented, and legally owed by reviewing statements, contracts, account records, and correspondence, and by confirming the amount and dates match the decedent’s financial history. If anything looks suspicious or incorrect, the executor can request proof, dispute the claim, or reject it through the court.
